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Vote on a request to approve consideration to waive the competitive bid process, and award the piggyback bid for the upgrade of Airbus Patriot to Airbus Vesta Hardware and license, and authorize Renee´ Paschal to execute contract.
ABSTRACT Motion to waive the competitive bid process under G.S. 143-129(g) piggyback exception, award the request for the upgrade of Airbus Patriot to Airbus Vesta Hardware and license to Wireless Communications for a total cost of $221,431.78, and authorize Renee' Paschal to execute purchase contract.
A. Copy of the bid award by County of Henry, Virginia
B. Copy of the quote for Chatham County
C. North Carolina General Statute 143-129 (g)
Introduction & Background: The 911 telephone equipment in this discussion is the heart of any public safety answering point (PSAP). This equipment allows the 911 call to be received by the telecommunicator along with vital information such as the callers telephone number (ANI) and the caller’s location (ALI).
The upgrade will allow the communications department to move forward with next generation equipment or A-911. Currently the 911 Center is able to receive wireline and wireless calls with the (ANI) and (ALI) data. These features worked great and assisted communications in expediting the response time to the citizens. With the rapid growth of technology a center once far ahead has now fallen behind. There has been a tremendous advancement in the way we can receive calls. Currently we cannot receive a text message that is a typical form of communications of our younger and deaf population. This is only one advantageous avenue the next generation can provide. There are many more such as video, pictures of criminals for bolo, specific floors of apartments, data from on-star etc.
Discussion and Analysis: The Emergency Operations department has investigated the Airbus Vesta new technology and feels that this system would better serve the communication center. The Airbus Vesta System version that we are proposing has the ability to move the communications center toward next generation technology.
Due to expediting the newer technology equipment, this department recommends to utilize the "piggyback" provision as stated in general statute 143-129(g). This process should expedite the contract so the needed technology can be added. Henry County, Va. has recently purchased the same equipment that Chatham County is now in need of, which would meet the general statute requirement. The Airbus Vesta System is designed in two equal parts which would give us a redundant system in our buildings (primary and backup communication centers).
North Carolina General Statute 143-129(g) authorizes local governments to purchase without bidding from a person or entity that has, within the last 12 months, contracted to furnish an item to another public agency.
On June 23, 2015, the Henry County Board of Supervisors awarded a contract to Wireless Communications for 911 call processing equipment. The RFP solicitation detailed the equipment as Airbus Patriot to Airbus Vesta Hardware Refresh. Henry County conducted a formal bid process, receiving two bids, as there are only two providers for the upgrade of the existing equipment. Henry County issued an advertisement in the Martinsville Bulletin on April 6, 2015 announcing the bid opportunity.
The Chatham County quote has been customized to meet our required needs for the communications center and the command post. The equipment is “substantially similar”, with the differences being in the quantity of workstations, the monitor type, and some additional 1 year warranties. The piggyback statue requires the County to publish in the local paper the information of this request presented to the Board of Commissioners ten days prior to hearing this request. The advertisement was placed in the Chatham News for Thursday, December 3rd to meet this requirement.
Budgetary Impact: No County budgetary impact. (Funds would come from Emergency Telephone Funds/E-911 Funds). The total cost of this project will be $$221,431.78.
Recommendation: Motion to waive the competitive bid process under G.S. 143-129(g) piggyback exception, award the request for the upgrade of Airbus Patriot to Airbus Vesta Hardware and license to Wireless Communications for a total cost of $$221,431.78, and authorize Renee' Paschal to execute purchase contract.